A Special Interview with the Artist Behind the Empowering and Uplifting Gourd Women Sculptures
Selen UĞUR
BORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
“German discipline. Turkish warmth. One singular vision.”
Born in 1976 in Hannover, Germany, the artist behind Zucabella brings a striking cultural duality into her work. At just 18, she moved to Turkey for her education and graduated in German Language and Literature.
“Growing up between two cultures taught me to see from two perspectives. The dance of contrasts became the soul of my art.”
One of her deepest influences? Her mentally disabled older sister.
“She taught me that what society calls a ‘flaw’ may actually be a hidden, rare gift.”
Now a mother and a wife, the artist says her young son’s curiosity keeps her creative world vibrant and constantly evolving.
🎤 ARTTMODERNMIAMI INTERVIEWS: HOW DID YOU MOVE FROM LANGUAGE TO EMOTION?
With 25 years of experience as a Certified Legal Translator in both English and German, she built a career on bridging cultural gaps through language. But something deeper was calling.
“I realized I didn’t want to just translate words—I wanted to translate emotions. That’s when art stepped in.”
Her artistic journey continues: she recently applied to a master’s program in Visual Design—proving that rediscovery has no age limit.
🎨 HOW DID A GOURD BECOME A MUSE?
A gift. Two gourds. Infinite inspiration.
“A friend gave me two gourds. I saw not just their quirky shapes—but a hidden story,” she recalls.
With paint, vision, and emotion, she transformed them.
What emerged? Not just figures—but souls.
MEET ZUCABELLA: MORE THAN A SCULPTURE
“Zucabella isn’t just a figure. She’s a manifesto.”
Even her name carries meaning:
🟡 Zuca (gourd) + 💃 Bella (beautiful) = Zucabella
Because beauty is not in perfection, but in the raw, the real, the wonderfully imperfect.
She never removes the seeds from the gourds.
“They symbolize potential. Life. The silent power waiting inside every woman.”
Zucabella defies every beauty standard—and wins hearts in the process.
“Yes, my women are curvy. But so are their joy, authenticity, and courage.”
📍 WHERE HAS SHE BEEN SEEN?
Her work has already made waves in Turkey through:
• İzmir İZFAŞ Art Fair (with Luna Grande Art)
• 4th İnci Gallery, Konak Pier
Audiences don’t just view Zucabella—they connect with her.
“They see a part of themselves,” she says.
🌍 GOING GLOBAL
From Europe to the U.S., Zucabella is resonating worldwide through the power of social media.
“People from everywhere tell me how Zucabella makes them feel. The languages differ—but the emotions are the same.”
WHAT UNITES THE ZUCABELLA WOMEN?
They don’t follow the rules. They rewrite them.
“My women don’t shrink to fit expectations. They expand into who they truly are.”
Every curve, every color, every smile declares:
🗣️ “Don’t be thinner. Don’t be quieter. Be you.”
Because happiness lies in coffee aromas, genuine laughter, and the choice to love your own body shape.
THE VISION AHEAD
She envisions Zucabella shining on gallery walls across the globe in the next five years.
Different languages. Shared emotion. A universal smile.
“Authenticity is contagious. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. It gives you courage.”
A MESSAGE TO THE UNIVERSE
“You don’t have to live by someone else’s rules.
Draw your own lines—with your own colors, your own curves, your own path.
Life is brighter when you’re truly yourself.”
📢 WHAT IF THE WHOLE WORLD COULD HEAR IT?
“Happiness isn’t something to find—it’s something to remember.
Don’t search for it in a thinner body, a flawless face, or someone else’s approval.
It’s already inside you: in your heart, in your thoughts, in your laughter.
And the moment you choose to be yourself—the world becomes more beautiful.”
FINAL WORD
Zucabella is not just art.
She is a curvy revolution.
A giggling rebellion.
A reminder that imperfection is power and authenticity is beautiful.
Follow her journey. Feel the joy. Remember your own beauty.
✨ #Zucabella
📸 @zucabella_official
🖼️ For exhibitions, press inquiries, or collaborations: selenugur76@gmail.com
